Recently opened in Podgorica, Book Store offers visitors something different from the usual trip to a café or bookstore – an opportunity to enjoy a coffee surrounded by books, browse through one of the available titles and take a break from the bustle of the city.
Behind the idea are Vladimir Vojinović and his wife Sanja Vojinović, who wanted to bring together in one place two things that have been close to them since their student days: literature and coffee. Both studied literature, and their professional and personal connection with books was one of the reasons they decided to create a space that differs from a traditional bookstore or café.
“We simply wanted to combine the pleasure of drinking coffee with a harmonious, relaxed atmosphere,” says Sanja, with whom we spoke about the idea, origins and concept behind Book Store.
Book Store was conceived as a peaceful, minimalist space where books are more than just part of the interior. Visitors can pick up a book that catches their interest, browse through it over coffee and only then decide whether they want to buy it. The idea is that spending time there does not come with an obligation either to buy a book or order a coffee, but rather gives people the opportunity to enjoy a pleasant atmosphere and discover content that interests them.
As Sanja explains, their intention was to create a place that offers a break from the rush and noise that often accompany our everyday coffee breaks.
“Here, you can be surrounded by people while still enjoying some peace and quiet with a book and a cup of coffee. The idea is not simply to offer a product – coffee or a book – but to bring the two together, although neither is obligatory. You can simply come in, browse through a book and spend some time with your own thoughts,” she says.
Book Store pays particular attention to Montenegrin authors from different generations, seeking to bring together established names as well as younger writers who are only beginning to find their place on the literary scene. As Sanja points out, it is important to them that contemporary Montenegrin literature remains visible, while new authors are given space to present and promote their work.
“We have the honour of collaborating with Balša Brković, Ognjen Spahić, Andrej Nikolaidis and Stefan Bošković, while also promoting young authors who are just embarking on their literary journeys,” Vojinović says.
The selection mainly includes titles published by Fokalizator, the publishing house behind the Book Store concept itself, although books from other publishers are also available. Sanja stresses, however, that the idea is not to limit the space exclusively to one type of literature or one particular audience. Instead, they want to bring books closer to people who may not regularly visit bookstores, as well as to younger generations. For that reason, in addition to books, the selection includes other content and products by local authors and creatives, such as colouring books, board games, T-shirts and tote bags.
Sanja believes that this more relaxed approach to culture is one of Book Store’s defining characteristics. Rather than being a formal cultural space, she says, it should be a place where encounters with literature happen naturally. Initial reactions from visitors suggest that the concept has sparked considerable interest among Podgorica residents. Sanja is particularly pleased that people come in asking about specific books and titles, but also that they recognise the space as somewhere they can stay and spend time, rather than simply make a purchase.
In the coming period, Book Store plans to expand its selection with a range of current, high-quality titles, while literary and other cultural events are also planned for the space.
As Podgorica expands and increasingly develops as an urban centre open to new experiences and different concepts, the habits of its residents are changing as well. In this space between the traditional coffee-drinking culture and the need for new places to meet, Book Store offers a different kind of setting – one where coffee and socialising naturally come together with reading and a quieter break from everyday city life.
The bookstore-café concept combines two familiar spaces in an environment often described as a “third place” – a space between home and work intended for relaxation, socialising and leisure. The roots of this concept can be traced back to European literary salons and coffeehouses of the 17th and 18th centuries, which served as gathering places for writers, philosophers and artists. Among the best-known examples is Café Le Procope in Paris, while Caffè Florian played a similar role in Venice. The modern model of a bookstore with an integrated café developed during the second half of the 20th century, when bookstores began creating spaces where visitors could not only buy books but also sit down, have a coffee and spend some time.
